INDUSTRY
The age old industry of the state is
cottage industry which plays a vital role in the village's economy. Cottage
industries which deserve emphasis are (1) weaving and dyeing (2) work
in cane (3) work in wood, blacksmithy, pottery and excavation of
salt, pulp and paper mill.
Spinning and weaving were the only significant industry in the Naga
hills until independence. The Aos, Rengmas and Lothas used to grow
cotton sufficient, not only for their own requirements but surplus
even to be given to the neighbouring tribes. In recent years, however,
mill made yarn, by virtue of its easy availability and
cheapness is steadily substituting the thread, spun
locally. In course of time, indigenous spinning would probably become
extinct unless the Nagas switched over to modern techniques. Weaving, however, continues to be popular.
All Naga girls are expected to know weaving
and they normally produce at home the necessary cloth for the family. Among the modern
girls, the art of weaving is not particularly fashionable,
though they know the
working principles of it. The loom is a simple tension loom. It is exclusively
a woman's possession and a man may not touch it. In fact, both spinning
and weaving are the monopoly of women. In the head-hunting days, a woman
was not expected to weave while her husband was on a raid lest his feet
got entangled in jungle and he was killed by the enemy. Dyeing
was also done by women only. A man who violated this rule, it was said,
would not have any luck in hunting or fishing. Now a days chemical dyes
are gradually replacing the indigenous colours.
The state is trying to encourage
small-scale and cottage industries. This will reduce the pressure on land,
ensure a larger employment potential and lead to a balanced regional development. Weaving training-cum-production centres have been set up at Mokokchung and
Dimapur,
a Cottage industries training-cum-production centre has come up at Mon,
and a cottage industries training centre at Aghunato. Industries like
soap-making, candle-making, bee-keeping are also being raised. A
significant landmark has been the setting up of an industrial Estate at Dimapur.
Three medium-level industries have been
established by the government for the development of Industrial Sector. The Nagaland
sugar mill at Dimapur has an installed capacity of 1,000 tonnes of
cane per day. There is a pulp and paper mill at Tuli
and plywood Factory at Tizet. In 1986, a Khandsari mill was
commissioned. In 1988, a mechanized bricks plant was commissioned
at Dimapur. A TV Assembly unit has also come up at Dimapur. These projects have provided employment opportunities to
a large number of youths.
Trade
Earlier there was very little trade, except some in beads and shells.
Now, Nagaland exports cotton,
jute, timber, forest produce, chilies, and oil seeds and imports
groceries and food stuffs, drugs and medicines, textile goods, utensils,
furniture etc.
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